Moisture control



H. F. SMITH.

MOISTURE CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED 5158.23. I918.

1 555 Patented. Nov. 22, 1921..

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' satura tor.

its way to the generating chamber.

FIE.

HARRY F. SMITH, 0F LEZX'ZING'TGN, OHIQ, ASSIGNOR. BY MESNEASfiIGIxTT/IENTS, TO THE (SS-AS RESEARCH COMPANY, 01E DAYTON, OHIO, ACURPORATION OF OHIO.

l /ZOIS'"URE CONTROL.

memes.

Application filed February 23, 1918.

To all 1/; from it may concern Be it known that Lliannr l3. SMITH, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Lexington,Richland. county, Ohio, have invented certain new and uset'ulImprovements in Moisture Controls, of which the following is a full,clear, and err-- act description.

This invention relates to generation and more particularly to apparatusfor regulating; the supply of moisture to a gas generating chamber.

It is a quite common practice in present day gas producer operation toutilize as a supply of moisture tor the generating chamber, the exhauststeam from the engines driving the pumps for forcing the gas through,the mains. As is well known, in the generation of producer gas asupplyof air and moisture is passed through a bed of incandescent carbonaceousmaterial. "W here exhaust steam is used a source of moisture, it isfrequently passed. into a saturator, through which is flowing a streamof air on These saturators are of substantial size, in general practicebeing about four feet wide, ten feet high, and from four to twelve feetlong, depending upon the size of the plant. Preter'ably battles areplaced in the saturator to facilitate bringing the steam and air intomore intimate contact, but these may be dis-- pensedwith if desired. The air as it passes through the saturator absorbs a greater or lessquantity of steam, where there is an excess of steam present becomingcompletely saturated, and carries the absorbed. moisture into thegenerating chamber. Since the usual practice is to have the moisturecontaining air leaving the saturator at a tempcrature of about 140 F.there Will be some water, or condensed steam, present in the Under thesecircumstances the quantity of moisture thus absorbed by the air wiltvaryaccording to the temperature of such air, since it is a well recognizedfact that the saturation point of air forwater varies with thetemperature of that air. if steam in large excess is supplied to thesaturating chamber, it is obvious that the temperature of the air willbe l srher than it a smaller quantity of steam is supplied, and, thatbecause of such higher temperature the quantity oi moisture necessarytor saturating the air will also be greater. It is ap- Speclfication ofLetters Patent.

steam controlling valve; and

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

Serial No. 218,913.

parent, therefore, that by properly regulatmg the quantity of steamintroduced into the saturating chamber, the temperature ex- I 1st1ng inthat chamber can be varied and the proportion of moisture supplied tothe generating chamber thus also correspondingly varied.- A I incarrying out my invention 1 provide temperature responsive means in theoutlet from the saturator for controlling valve actuating means to admita greater orless quantity of steam to the saturator according as thetemperature therein decreases or increases.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensivm'butthoroughly re liable and effective apparatus for varying the quantity ofsteam supplied to the satu-- rator in such wise as to keep constant theproportion of moisture and air supplied to the generating chamber.

In the accompanying drawing, in Which like characters of referencedesignate like parts throughout the several views, and in which theinvention is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically,

Figure l discloses a preferred embodiment of my invention havingpressure op erated means for varying the opening of the Fig. 2 isanother form of apparatus in which the steam controlling valve iselectrically operated.

,In that form of invention illustrated'in Fig. l, l is av steamsupplying pipe which opens into the saturator 2.

in the drawing the saturator is show diagrammatically, the dimensions inactual. practice, as set forth above, varying, accordmg to the size ofthe producer with which it is to be used; its also stated above, thesaturator preferably contains battles, coke or cobble stones servingvery satisfactorily, but these batlles may be dispensed with if desired,and are not shown in the drawing,

' since they may be of any ofthe well-known ber, and, through thepassage 4: connected therewith, upon the interior or the saturator,

As may be seen, from the structure disclosed,

in order to securethe desired proportion of v steam and air,

a suificient quantity of steam should be introduced into the saturatorto insure a temperature therein suficiently high to cause the saturatedair to contain the desired proportion of moisture. To maintain constantthe proportion of moisture in the air the inflow of steam to thesaturator should be so regulated that the temperature thereof shallremain constant. lhis form of moisturei'egulating mechanism may also beused in connection with a pressure or forced draft producer if desired,in which case the exhaust steam should be introduced into the current ofair being forced into the generating chamber. In other words the onlynecessary difference in operation will result, fronrthe air and moisturebeing forced into the. generator chamber instead of being suckedtherethrough.

Located in the pipe 1 is a valve 5 for controlling the flow of steamtherethrough. he stem 6 of this valve is operatively connected with thediaphragm 7 of the pressure controlled diaphragm regulator 8.Surrounding the stem 6 is a spring 9 adapted to normally urge the valve5 toward closed position. Opening into one end of the diaphragm is apipe 10 adapted to convey a fluid under pressure into the diaphragm -toa pipe 11. which is in turn connected regulator. This fluid underpressure tends to normally urge the diaphragm 7 to open the valve 5against the action of the spring 9. The pipe 10 is connected at itsother en to a source of fluid under pressure. In actual practice anydesired fluid under pressure may be used, but I prefer to use water orair. The pipe 10 is also connected to a waste or exhaust pipe 12 adaptedto lead off from that pipe and the diaphragm regulator 8 the pressurefluid stored up therein to thus dissipate the pressure on the diaphragm7.

Located in the pipe 11 and adapted. to control the flow of pressureil'uid therethrough is a valve 13. While located in the pipe 12 andadapted to control flow througli that pipe, is a valve 14. As shown each[of these valves consists d This will of a metallic piston lh incenselocated in an enlargement 16, and having a leather or rubber plug 17attached to the .lower end thereof for cooperation with ,the

valve seat 18. lhe valves 15 are normally urged against theircooperating seats, to close off flow through the pipes controlledthereby, by the action of gravity. Surrounding each of the enlargements'16 is a solenoid 19 adapted upon being energized to move the valvelocated therein thus raise that valve off its seat.

Passing through the wall of the passage 4 and insulated therefrom in anydesired manner, is a metallic member 20, the inner end of which extendsinto the passage 4, and carries thereon a thermostatic strip 21. Locatedwithin the passage 4 and upon opposite sides of the thermostatic strip21 are two contact elements 22. Each of these contact elements extendsoutwardly through the wall of the passage a and is insulated therefromin any desired manner. As shown each of the contact members 22 and themember 21 is insulated from the wall of the passageway 4 by means ofconventional insulation 23. The thermostatic strip 21 is so arrangedthat it is normally out of contact with both of the contact elements 22.As the temperature in the passageway varies,-however, it is obvious thatthe distorted to cause it to contact with either one or the other of thecontact elements. Leading from the free end of the member 20 is aconductor 24, which connects the member 20, and thus the thermostaticstrip 21, to one terminal of each of the solenoids 19. Leading from oneof the elements 22 and connected to the free terminal of one of thesolenoids is a conductor 25. Leading from the free end of the otherelement 22 is a conductor 26. which is connected to the freelongitudinally to thermostatic strip will be terminal of the othersolenoid. Each of the conductors 25 and 26 has herein a. battery 27 forcausing a flow of current therethrough when the circuit is closed. Ifthe temperature in the passage a surrounding the ther-. mostatic strip21 varies, a corresponding deformation of that strip will ensue causingit to contact with one of theelements 22 immediately close the circuitthrough the corresponding conductor 25-26 resulting in thepassage ofcurrent from the battery 27 throng!" the solenoid cotiperating with theparticular fcontact element. And the passage of current through thissolenoid will immediately energize it with a resulting longitudinalmovement of the valve cooperating therewith to move the valve oh itsseat and permit flow of fluid therethrough to or from the pipe 10.

It the amount of steam flowing through the pipe 1 into the saturator 2is excessive there will be a resulting rise in temperature in the of thevalve 15 controlling flow through the exhaust pipe 12 to-thus decreasethe pressure -in the diaphragm regulator 3 and permit ormation of thethermostatic strip 21 to ac-- tuate the valve 15 controlling the flow ofpressure fluid from the pipe 11 through the pipe 10 into the diaphragmregulator8. The pressure tending to open the valve against the tensionof spring 9 will thus be built up with a resulting opening movement ofmechanism is of a different type.

througli the pipe 1.

the valve to admits larger quantity of steam to the saturaton which willbring about a return therein to' normal conditions. In Fig. 2 isillustrated a modified form of apparatus in which the vali e actuatingIn this modification 1' is the steam supply pipe, 2. is the saturatorhaving an air inlet 3 and a passage 4 leading to the producer. Passingthrough the wall of the passage 4 and extending into the interiorthereof, is the thermostatic strip 21 and the contact elements 22, eachof which is properly insulated as at 23. Connected to the thermostaticstrip is a' conductor 24, While connected to the contact elements 22 areconductors 25 and 26, having batteries 27 therein. All of the parts thusreferred to are identical in structure with the corresponding parts inFig. 1 and no further description is neces sar "located in the siteamsupply pipe 1 and adapted to control flow therethrough is anyconventional type of rotary valve 28, having an operating stem 29connected thereto, rotation of which stem will cause a correspondingactuation of the valve 28, to bring about an increased or decreased flowRigidly attached to the free end .of the valve stem 29 are two disks 30and 31, rotation of either of these disks causing corres ending rotationof the valve stem. Locate o'e'tween the twodislrs 30 and 31, and adaptedto contact with either of them, is a friction pulley 32 car ried by theshaft 33 of the motor 34. The shaft 33 has therein intermediate themotor and friction pulley, a universal joint 35. The

motor 34 is adapted to rotate continuously in one direction and toimpart to the trio: tion pulley 32 a corresponding motion. Because ofthe universal joint in the driving shaft the friction pulley can beurged into substantial frictional contact with either of 'the disks30-31 and maintained in such contact therewith.

Surrounding the shaft 33 between the universal joint and \the frictionpulley, is .a loosely mounted collar 36 adapted to permit of readyrotation of the shaft 33 therein. Attached to the collar 36 atdiametrically opposite points are two metallic members 37'and 38. Themembers 37 and 38 extend inside the solenoid 39 and 4:0 respectively andconstitute in eii'ect cores for those solenoids, Energizing eithersolenoid will cause axial displacement of the core cotiperatingtherewith to bring the friction pulley 32 into substantial frictionalcontact with one of the plates 30-31. Inasmuch as the motor 34: isrotating the friction pulley 28 continuously in one direction, it isevident that bringing that pulley into substantial frictional contactwith either of the disks 30-31, will cause a corresponding rotation ofthat disk about its axis to bring about rotation of the valve 28. It isalso evident that, inasmuch as the rotation of the friction pulley isconstant in direction, bringing it into contact with the disk 30 willcause a rotation of the valve in a direc' tion opposite to that causedbybringing it the selenoid corresponding thereto to ener- I gize thatsolenoid, and thus bring thefriction pulley into substantial contactwith one of the disks 30-31.

Any variation in the relative amount of steam passing into the saturator2 will cause corresponding variation in the temperature in thepassageway 4 with a resulting deformation of the thermostatic strip 21.Such deformation will cause contact of the thermostatic strip with oneof the contact ele ments 22 to energize the solenoid coiiperatingtherewith to increase or decrease the opening of the valve 28 with acorrespond mg; .increaseor decrease in the quantity 0};

steam supplied to the saturator to. bring about a return to normalcondition's'therein';

{While the forms of. mechanis' i I shown and describedconstitutafprefefi'ed- .forms of embodiment of the iitventiou-, ,it

is to be understood that other forms be ado ted, all coming Within theclaims which follow? urator having a gas inlet at one end and anoutletat the other end thereof; a steamlsup ply pipe leading into thesaturator adjacent said air inlet a pressure operated valve controllingflow through said pipe; electrically operated means for controlling theoperating pressures affecting said valve; and means responsive totemperature conditions in the outlet pipe for actuating said electucallyoperatedcontrolling means,

3. In a device for controlling the supply of moisture to a producer; thecombination of a saturator; an air inlet thereinto, an out- 'let passaqetherefrom; a steam supply'pipe leading into the saturator adjacent theair inlet; means for controlling flow of steam into the saturator; andmeans responsive to temperature conditions within the outlet passage foractuating the co ntrolling means.

4-. in a device for controlling the supply of moisture to a producer;the combination of a saturator, an air inlet thereinto, an outletpassage therefrom; a steam supply pipe leading into the saturatoradjacent the air inlet; a valve for controlling flow of steam into thesaturator; pressure operated means for controlling the valve; and meansresponsive to temperature conditions within the outlet passage foractuating the pressure operated means.

5. In a device for controlling a supply of moisture to a producer, thecombination with a. saturator, having an air inlet in one end and anoutlet in the other end thereof; of a steam supply pipe opening intosaidsaturator adjacent the air inlet; a valve for controlling the flowof steam through said sup ply pipe into the satuator; pressure operatedmeans for varying thepositioning of said valve; electrically operatedmeans for varying the pressure upon said pressure'op erated means; andmeans responsive to temperature conditions within the outlet for causingactuation of said electrically operated means.

6. ln a device for controlling the supply of moisture to a producer, thecombination with a saturator, having an air inlet in one end and anoutlet in the other end thereof; of a steam supply pipe opening intosaid saturator adjacent the air inlet; a valve for controlling the flowof steam through said pipe; pressure responsive means for varyins; thepositioning of said valve Within the steam supply pipe; a pluralityotelectrically operated valves for controlling the pressures affectingsaid pressure responsive means; and means responsive to temperatureconditions Within the outlet pipe for actuatint: said electricallyoperated valves.

7. In a device for controlling the supply of moisture to a producer, thecombination 5 with a saturator, having an air inlet in one end and anoutlet in theother end thereof of asteam supply pipe opening into saidsaturator adjacent the air inlet; a valve for controlling the How ofsteam through said 0 pipe; pressure responsive means for varying thepositioning of said valve within the steam supply pipe; a pipeforwsupplyirig pressure fluidto said pressure responsive means, anelectrically operated valve there 35 in; a second pipe for exhaustingpressure fluid from said pressure responsive calls, an electricallyoperated valve therein; and means responsive to temperature conditionswithin the outlet pipe'i'or actuating said electricallyoperated valve.

8. In a device for controlling. the supply of moisture to a saturatorhaving an air inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end thereof, asteam supply pipe opening into said saturator, a valve for controllingthe flow of steam therethrqugh; pressure responsive means for varyingthe positioning of said valve ithin the steam supply pipe;

a pipe for supplying pressure fluid to said pressure responsive means, agravity closing valve in said pipe a solenoid for moving" said valveinto open position; a pipe for ex hausting pressure fluid from saidpressure responsive means, a gravity closing valve in. said pipe, asolenoid for moving said last named valve into open position; and heatresponsive means, adapted for positioning within the saturatoroutletpipe, for causing energizing of said solenoids.

In testimony. whereof l alfix my si nature HARRY l3. SMITH.

